The epididymal influence on sperm maturation

Effects of Common Fig (Ficus carica) Leaf Extracts on Sperm Parameters and Testis of Mice Intoxicated with Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde (FA) is the leading cause of cellular injury and oxidative damage in testis that is one of the main infertility causes. There has been an increasing evidence of herbal remedies use in male infertility treatment. This assay examines the role of Ficus carica (Fc) leaf extracts in sperm parameters and testis of mice intoxicated with FA. Twenty-five adult male mice were randomly divided into control; sham; FA-treated (10 mg/kg twice per day); Fc-treated (200 mg/kg); and FA + Fc-treated groups. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa were analyzed for viability, count, and motility. Testes were weighed and gonadosomatic index (GSI) was calculated. Also, histoarchitecture of seminiferous tubules was assessed in the Haematoxylin and Eosin stained paraffin sections. The findings showed that FA significantly decreased GSI and increased percentage of immotile sperm compared with control group. Disorganized and vacuolated seminiferous epithelium, spermatogenic arrest, and lumen filled with immature germ cells were also observed in the testes. However, Fc leaf extracts improved sperm count, nonprogressive motility of spermatozoa, and GSI in FA-treated testes. Moreover, seminiferous tubule with spermatogenic arrest was rarely seen, indicating that Fc has the positive effects on testis and epididymal sperm parameters exposed with FA.

Morphological and morphometric attributes of epididymal and testicular spermatozoa following surgical sperm retrieval for obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia

Whilst the morphological (shape) and morphometric (sperm head size) attributes of ejaculated spermatozoa have been well studied, the morphological and morphometric qualities of testicular and epididymal spermatozoa retrieved from males with obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia is much less documented. We wished to examine the effect of aetiology of azoospermia and site of retrieval on the attributes of retrieved spermatozoa. This was a prospective observational study of 30 consecutive successful sperm retrievals, six for nonobstructive azoospermia and 24 for obstructive, of which five were retrieved from the epididymis and the remainder from the testis. The proportion of morphologically normal testicular spermatozoa in patients with obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia was not significantly different (7% versus 7.6%, P = 0.97). Testicular spermatozoa from males with obstructive azoospermia showed an increase in frequency of sperm with small heads [47/180 (26%) versus 97/909 (11%), P = 0.036] as well as small acrosome and increasing vacuole formation over nonobstructive spermatozoa. Similarly, there was a significant increase in tail deformities and decreases in tail lengths in sperm from males with nonobstructive azoospermia. Epididymal spermatozoa showed significantly greater proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa than testicular (20% versus 13%, P = 0.001) as well as a significant increase in acrosome vacuoles. Furthermore, morphometrically epididymal spermatozoa displayed with smaller head length, width and area than testicular spermatozoa. Testicular spermatozoa from obstructive azoospermia displayed significantly less tail defects (35% versus 57%, P = 0.003) as well as significantly longer tail lengths (30.6 microm versus 10.7 microm). These morphological and morphometric differences between epididymal and testicular and obstructive and nonobstructive spermatozoa may represent part of the natural maturation process. There were no associations between any morphological or morphometric abnormality with any significant parameter in subsequent use in ICSI.

Impact of foetal-onset hypothyroidism on the epididymis of mature rats

It is well established that congenital hypothyroidism leads to male infertility. However, there is a dearth of information on foetal-onset hypothyroidism-induced changes in the epididymis. With regard to transient hypothyroidism, the existing literature deals mainly with the testis. However, it is not known whether there is any corresponding alteration in epididymal morphology and physiology under such a condition. The present study is therefore aimed at understanding the impact of persistent and transient hypothyroidism on the concentration of epididymal sex steroids, as they play a vital role in maintaining the normal structure and function of the epididymis. Normal rats of 90 days of age served as controls (Group I). Hypothyroidism was induced by using pregnant/lactating mothers and post-weaning rats to 0.05% (w/v) methimazole (MMI) in the drinking water. Group II were subjected to persistent hypothyroidism from day 9 of post-coitum (pc) to 90 days. Group III rats were subjected to transient hypothyroidism from day 9 day pc to day 1 post-partum (pp), 21 pp or 35 pp (IIIa, b and c, respectively) and group IV rats were given simultaneous T3 supplementation (3 microg/100 g body wt./day i.m.) with MMI from day 9 pc to day 1 pp; 21 pp and 35 pp (Group IVa, b and c). Animals from all groups were killed on day 90 pp. Serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid hormones confirmed euthyroidism in group I, IIIa, b and c and IVa, b and c rats and hypothyroidism in group II rats. Caput and cauda epididymal concentration of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), estradiol (E2) and androgen binding protein (ABP) markedly decreased in group II rats. While the concentration of testosterone, E2 and ABP increased in group III rats, that of DHT remained unaltered. However, group IV rats maintained normal concentration of the sex steroid and ABP. The activity of 5-alpha-reductase in the epididymis of all the groups followed the same trend as that of the concentration of epididymal DHT. From the present data it is evident that persistent hypothyroidism diminishes the bioavailability of androgens and oestrogens, while transient hypothyroidism enhances the same, indicating the importance of euthyroidism during foetal and neonatal period towards the maintenance of optimal hormonal status in the epididymis required for its maturation.